Reflection on Chapter 2: What do you see? By Jubilee Adeoye
Welcome to today’s study.
Thank you, Jesus, for being consistent in all that you do. You’re consistent in loving us, you are consistent in guiding us, you’re consistent in showing us mercy, you are consistent in being our Father. We ask that you help us to be conscious of who you are to us and all that you have provided for us. As we behold your Word again tonight, let the light of your Word illuminate our hearts and flush out every darkness around us in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Short bio: Jubilee is an engineer who loves God. Let’s welcome Jubilee.
Chapter Keynote: With all that is going on in our world today, there is no better time to reflect on the importance of setting our focus fully on God. We have a powerful, faithful, and loving father who is able to deliver us from all the evils around us and bring us to the end that he has promised concerning us:
“… But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil …” (Thessalonians 3: 2-4, NKJV)
1) Where does your hope lie?
“… And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God …” (1 Samuel 30:6, NKJV)
In this passage, David encountered a serious adversity that could have cost him his life. In addition to having to grief over the loss of his family to the Amalekites, he was about to be stoned by his own men. David had known these men for many years so he knew what they were capable of. In such a situation even the most fearless person will be afraid.
The scripture does not tell us what David said to the people to change their minds. However, we know that “David encouraged himself in the Lord”. While we do not know particularly how he encouraged himself, reading through the scriptures, we see David’s way of dealing with such situation. I can imagine David speaking the words of these psalms:
“… He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty …” Psalm 91: 1 (to vs 16, NKJV); “… I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence cometh my help? …” (Psalm121: 4, KJV); “… Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me …” (Psalm 23:4, KJV)
We also see through the Bible that God’s children cried out to him in their times of distress. These include Elijah when he was threatened by Jezebel; Moses at the red sea when pharaoh’s army pursued him and the Israelites; the disciples when they faced persecution by the Jewish council. They had to look beyond the helplessness in that moment, looking beyond what they could do for themselves to God their deliverer. The title of this chapter “What do you see” is very powerful. When we are in difficult situations and circumstances, do we see God as our deliverer who is bigger than the situation or do we run to man for deliverance? When challenges come, we need to turn away from all that we have considered as our rock, surrendering everything to him.
With all that is going on in our world today, there is no better time to reflect on the importance of setting our focus fully on God. We have a powerful, faithful, and loving father who is able to deliver us from all the evils around us and bring us to the end that he has promised concerning us:
“… But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil …” (Thessalonians 3: 2-4, NKJV)
2) How should we handle challenges that seem not resolve despite our prayers?
What should our attitude be when the physical manifestation of the thing that we are praying and believing for is delayed. Many times, such delays and disappointments can impact our belief and trust in God’s word for the future. As Christians, should we stop praying or lose faith in God’s love for us, or should we press on in prayer and in faith. I think we can learn from Job’s experience:
“… Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him …” (Job 13:5, KJV)
This was Job’s statement after Satan had touched his livelihood, family, and health. His friends accused him of unrighteousness, pinning his ordeal on the judgement of God. His wife also encouraged him to curse God and die. Through it all, he continued to trust in the lord and hope in his salvation.
“… In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly …” (Job 1:22, NKJV)
Although Job wrongly thought that it was God who brought the evil upon him, his response to this situation shows that he had a right heart. He was not going to waver in his faith despite the circumstance. We all go through seasons of difficulties. These challenges may come in any form. However, we need to put things in perspective of the word of God. Just as Job experienced, the enemy will raise thoughts and accusations from those close to us, which may cause us to doubt God’s word and his love for us. We need to know that God is with us in those seasons:
“… When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you …” (Isaiah 43: 2, NKJV)
Just like Job, we should not stop trusting the lord when situations do not go as we hoped or planned. We need to always trust in the lord to take us through such seasons and bring us out of the situation better off than if we did not experience that season:
“… And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose… ” (Romans 8:28, KJV)
In light of this, knowing that every situation will turn out for good helps us to put things into perspective just as the prophet Habakkuk says:
“… Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places …” (Habakkuk 3: 16-18, KJV)
One may ask, what if the situation seems not to change, what should I do. In those seasons, we need to continue to speak God’s words concerning the situation and claim God’s promises. We cannot afford to slip into doubt, fear, and unbelief. We understand from the scripture that the word of God cannot fall to the ground. We know that our God is a gracious and loving father. If he has said it, it will come to pass. We also know that God takes his word seriously. Whatever he says, he will do:
“… God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? …” (Numbers 23:19, KJV)
“… I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name …” (Psalm 138:2, NLT)
We can rest assured knowing that God will bring his promises to pass in the right season at the right time. As we pray concerning those situations and fellowship with him in his word to know what his will is concerning all situations in our lives, I am persuaded that God will show forth and show out his power, grace, and mercy in our lives.
3) Action points
Are you facing a challenge that has tested your faith? I want to encourage you to take the following actions concerning that problems:
1. Get into the word of God: This is crucial because you need to know what the promises of God are concerning your situation, through his word, in order to pray aright.
2. Pray. With an understanding of God’s word concerning each situation, you can pray aright. Pray in your understanding and pray in tongues.
3. Thanksgiving and Godly confession. Thank God for the victory over the circumstance and speak life, not death, into the situation.
“… For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned …” (Matthew 12:37 NKJV)